Apparatus for making ice



Oct. 28 1924.

M. H. BAXTER .APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE Filed Jan. 24 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented @et 28, 1924.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING- ICE.

Application filed January 24, 1924. Serial No. 688,271.

To all w/tom t may @0n-cern:

Be it known that I, MAXWELL H. BAXTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the countyv of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Apparatus for llaking Ice, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for ina-king ice, and more particularly to freezing cans and rods therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of center rod or tube for freezing cans which will permit more rapid manufacture of ice and facilitate the removal of the ice from the can.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bracket or support for the upper end of the tube which will be automatically released by the ice and returned to normal position after the ice has been removed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. tn this showing:

Figure 1 is a plan view,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the center tube,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of the lower end of the center tube and the sunporting means therefor,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a similar view on line 6-6 of 1Figure 3, c

Figure 7 is aperspective view of a support for the lower end of the center tube, and,

Figure 8 is a similar view of a closure plug.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates lgenerally alfreezing can which is preferably rectangular in horizontal and vertical cross section and is generally of a predetermined size to freeze a block of ice of a desired size and weight. A center tube 2 is arranged vertically in the can in the usual manner. The lower end of the center tube is provided with a ball 3 having a projecting pin 4 arranged at one side. As shown in Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings, the bottom 5 of the can is provided with a centrally arranged opening adapted to receive a pair of coacting members which support the lower end of the center tube. An outer member 6 substantially tubular in shape, is provided with a reduced opening 7 at its upper end slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the tube and beyond this opening, the inner wall is provided with a circulary concaved face 8 adapted to be engaged by the upper portion of the ball 3. The lower end of thc tubular member is provided with a flange 9 arranged beneath the bottom of the can, An inner tubular member 10 is adapted to be received in the outer tubular member and this member is provided with a similar flange 11 arranged beneath the flange 9. These flanges are secured to the bottom of the can by means of rivets 12. The flange 11 is provided with an upstanding periph eral edge 13, arranged beyond the periphery of the flange 9. The upper end of the inner tubular member is provided with a concaved face 14, adapted to be engaged by the lower portion of the ball. This edge is further provided with a slot 15, adapted to receive the pin 4 carried by the ball to per` mit a certain amount of play of the tube in one vertical plane. The inner tubular member is provided with a lower extension 16 projecting beyond the 'flange l1 and this eX- tension has a pair of diametrically opposite bayonet ,slots 17. A plug 18 is adapted to be arranged in the lower end of the inner tubular member during the freezing operation and this plug is provided with projecting pins 19 adapted to be received in the slots 17.

The upper end of the center tube is supported by a bracket secured to the upper edge of the can. As shown, the bracket consists of a member 2O adapted to frictionally engage the inner and outer sides of the wall of the can and an arm 21 is hingedly con' nected thereto. The inner end of the arm is provided with an opening adapted to receive the upper end of the center tube. Adjacent the bottom, the center tube is provided with a plurality of openings 22 arranged in the same horizontal plane, and above the openings 22, there are provided spaced open ings 23.

In the manufacture of ice, the plug 18 is placed in position and the can is filled with water. is delivered through the tube 2 and passes through the openings 22 and 23 to agitate the water. Center tubes have heretofore During the freezing operation, airv been provided with only one set of openings similar to the lower set of openings 22, but by providing additional openings 23 at spaced intervals, I find that the freezing operation may be facilitated. After the water adjacent the bottom of the can is frozen, agitation is continued by the air passing` through the openings 28. When the ice is to be removed from the can, it is placed in the thawing tank in the usual manner. The plug 18 may be first removed to permit hot water to pass upwardly through the tube or the plug may be removed after the can is taken from the thawing tank.

The can is allowed to remain in the thawing tank sufficiently long to permit a slight reduction in the size of the cake of ice and yloosen it from the walls of the can and from the tube 2. It is then ready to be remover from the canand the can is tilted toward the side remote from the member 20. Thethawing of the ice has reduced it sufficiently in size` to permit it to pass the member 2O and the weight of the ice moves the arm 21 out of the top of the can, permitting the ice to be removed. When the can is returned to normal position, the arm 2l moves by gravity to a position over the top of the can substantially in its original position. The tube 2 will have assumed an inclined position, due to the ball 3 formed on its lower end and the operator then slightly raises the arm 2l to place the end of the tube in the opening` in the arm and return the parts to operative position. The ball 3 on the lower end of the tube permits the tube to oscillate when the ire is being removed from the can and prevents the tube from breaking or bending during the removal operation.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention Vherewith shown and described is tofbe taken as a preferredv example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and Varrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

lfIn an ice freezing can, a central tube, said tube being provided with openings, means for supporting the lower end of the tube, and an arm secured to one side of said can and engaging the upper end of the tube,

arm being provided with an opening for the reception of said tube, and being adapted to assume a position with its openingover the vcenter of said can when thecan is in n ormal position.

3. In an ice freezing can, a central tube, said tube being provided with openings, means for releasably supporting the upper end of said tube, a ball secured to the lower end of said tube, and a supporting member secured to the bottom of the can, said supporting member being provided with a socket for the reception of said ball.

4i. In an ice freezing can, a centraltube, said tube being provided with openings, means for releasably supporting the upper end of said tube, a ball secured to the lower end of said tube, a supporting member secured to the bottom of the can, said supporting member being provided with a socket for the reception of said ball, the wall of said supporting member being provided with a slot, and a pin carried by said ball and adapted to enter said slot to limit the movement of said central tube.

5. In an ice freezing can, a central tube, said tube beingprovided with openings, a ball secured to the lower end of said tube, a supporting member secured to the bottom of said can and provided with a socket for the reception of said ball, a supporting member secured to the upper edge of said can, and an arm hingedly connected to said supporting member, said arm being provided with an opening for the reception of said tube.

In testimony whereof, I afX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAXWELL H. BAXTER. lVitnesses:

TOM B. ALLEN, S. J. MGDOWELL. 

